Mets INF/OF Jeff McNeil injured his hamstring on Aug. 13 against the Braves. Here are the latest updates...
Aug. 24, 3:50 PM:
Jeff McNeil will be active for the Mets game on Saturday night against the Braves, it is the first day that he was eligble to be removed from the IL. He will not be in the starting lineup.
The Mets have designated Aaron Altherr for assignment to make room for McNeil on the active roster.
Aug. 23, 7:01 PM:
McNeil played in all seven innings of Game 1 of Brooklyn's doubleheader, going 1-for-4 and playing both right field and third base. Not only did he collect a hit in his first at bat, but he legged out an infield single, a good sign for a player recovering from a hamstring injury.
Mickey Callaway said prior to Friday's game that he was unsure whether McNeil would be available to return from the IL on Saturday, the first day he'd be eligible to do so
Aug. 23, 12:12 PM:
McNeil's rehab assignment will shift from Triple-A Syracuse to Low-A Brooklyn on Friday, reports SNY's Andy Martino, who says McNeil will be in the lineup when Brooklyn plays Game 1 of their doubleheader against the Tigers in Norwich, Conn.
Norwich is a roughly 2 1/2 hour drive to Citi Field, so it can be deduced that McNeil is being shifted from Triple-A Syracuse to Low-A Brooklyn so he is in closer proximity to the Mets.
McNeil is eligible to return from the IL on Saturday.
Aug. 22, 4:07 PM:
McNeil will begin a rehab assignment on Thursday night with Triple-A Syracuse, Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. According to Callaway, McNeil will play five-to-seven innings while getting time in both left and right field.
"We want to see him ranging and running down balls, just ot make sure he's totally healthy," Callaway explained.
McNeil is eligible to return on Aug. 24.
Aug. 21, 4:18 PM:
McNeil will hit and take live ground balls on Wednesday, Mickey Callaway said. As far as McNeil potentially needing rehab games before being activated from the IL, Callaway said the team will "make some kind of determination" after McNeil gets through Wednesday's activities.
Aug. 20, 4:46 PM:
McNeil had a "good day" on Tuesday, when he ran the bases and took batting practice, Mickey Callaway said.
Asked whether McNeil will be ready to return on Saturday, Callaway said the team didn't have a definitive timeline, adding "we'll see how he comes out of the day."
Aug. 19, 12:07 PM:
The expectation remains that McNeil will not miss significant time, but he may need to participate in rehab games before being activated from the IL, reports SNY's Andy Martino.
According to Martino, playing in rehab games could push back McNeil's return "just a bit."
Aug. 15, 4:07 PM:
A day after being placed on the IL, McNeil was out before Thursday night's game in Atlanta jogging and doing agility drills, reports MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.
Aug. 15, 12:30 AM:
McNeil spoke about the injury following Wednesday's loss to the Braves, saying the MRI results were expected.
"It's kind of what we thought it would be. We didn't think it was that bad or anything," McNeil said. "MRI just kind of confirmed that, and hopefully I'll be back on the field soon.
"It's a little sore today, but that was to be expected. We'll see where it is the next few days and go from there."
Video: Jeff McNeil encouraged by MRI results
Aug. 14 3:59 PM:
As expected, the Mets officially placed McNeil on the 10-day IL, with Ruben Tejada replacing him on the 25-man roster. Meanwhile Jacob Rhame was transferred to the 60-day IL and will not return to the mound this season.
Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen addressed McNeil's situation before Wednesday's game.
"Very low-grade (strain), so we hope that he can progress quickly and get back on the field," Van Wagenen said.
"It's the same leg (that he injured earlier this season). Hard to compare the two. I think he came back in 11 or 12 days the last go round. Always hard to say until a guy starts progressing with activity, but we were encouraged by the MRI that we'll get a quick turnaround like last time."
Aug. 14, 12:40 PM:
The MRI on McNeil's hamstring revealed only a mild strain, reports MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.
According to DiComo, the Mets expect McNeil to be able to return in 10 days.
SNY's Andy Martino confirmed that McNeil has been placed on the IL (with Ruben Tejada activated), and that there is "initial optimism" about McNeil's potentially quick return.
Aug. 14, 10:58 AM:
Triple-A Syracuse INF Ruben Tejada is meeting the Mets in Atlanta as insurance in case the team needs to place McNeil on the IL, SNY's Andy Martino confirmed.
Tejada, 29, is hitting .337/.412/.486 with six homers in 73 games this season.
He last played in the majors in 2017 and last played in the majors for the Mets in 2015.
Aug. 14, 9:39 AM:
McNeil will remain in Atlanta instead of traveling to New York for his MRI, with that MRI taking place on Wednesday morning, reports Andy Martino of SNY.
According to Martino, Triple-A Syracuse infielder Ruben Tejada is a consideration to replace McNeil if he lands on the IL.
Aug. 13, 10:56 PM:
McNeil pulled up lame while trying to leg out an infield hit while leading off the nitnh inning against the Braves.
After the game, McNeil said he felt his hamstring tighten up before making his final stride for the first base bag.
"I didn't feel it pop," McNeil explained. "I felt a little snag. Nothing crazy. I guess we'll see where it is in the morning. ... Hopefully, maybe it's just a cramp that I felt, but I guess we'll see."